The
MMA Lab standout submitted Chas Skelly
with a brabo choke in the second round of their featherweight
prelim at
UFC Fight Night 139 on Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Moffett (14-3, 1-0 UFC) brought it to a close 2:43 into Round 2,
through the result was not without controversy. Thinking Skelly was
unconscious, referee Tim Mills had
moved in to release the choke and call for the stoppage. The Hard
Knocks 365 representative immediately rose to his feet in protest,
to no avail. After several tense moments and multiple looks at
replays, Mills’ decision stood.

Skelly (17-4, 6-4 UFC) transitioned from a takedown to a standing
back take in the first round, attached himself to his opponent’s
back and hunted for the rear-naked choke. Moffett fought through
the adversity and pushed the fight deeper. He landed a takedown
roughly 90 seconds into the second round, only to be reversed by
the cagy Skelly. However, Moffett cinched a brabo choke from the
bottom and squeezed until Mills intervened.

Ramos Choke Submits Gunther

Onetime Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World
Championships gold medalist Davi Ramos
submitted John
Gunther with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their
lightweight prelim. Ramos (9-2, 3-1 UFC) drew the curtain 1:57 into
Round 1.

Gunther (5-1, 1-1 UFC) had nothing to offer the decorated Brazilian
jiu-jitsu black belt. Ramos secured a double-leg takedown, passed
to side control and wheeled to the back. He then threaded his
hooks, locked in the choke and elicited the tapout from the
previously unbeaten Strong Style Fight Team export.

Ramos, 32, will carry a three-fight winning streak into his next
outing.

Smith Debuts with 46-Second Knockout

Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series alum Devonte
Smith needed less than a minute to wipe out Julian
Erosa with punches in their undercard pairing at 155 pounds.
Erosa (22-6, 1-2 UFC) succumbed to blows 46 seconds into Round 1,
his three-fight winning streak a thing of the past.

Smith (9-1, 1-0 UFC) picked his spots, floored “The Ultimate
Fighter 22” graduate with a crisp two-punch combination and swarmed
with punches. Powerless to defend himself, Erosa ate one shot after
another until referee Tim Mills
arrived on the scene to prevent further damage.

Cooper (3-5, 2-4 UFC) was strong out of the gate, as she scored
with leg kicks, punching combinations to the head and an early
takedown. However, Yoder answered in the second round, where she
paired a head-and-arm throw with some mild ground-and-pound. She
made more progress in the third, as she reversed a double-leg
takedown into top position, threatened with a kneebar and advanced
to the back in the waning seconds, biting down on a face crank on
the neutralized Cooper.

Shelton (12-5, 2-3 UFC) was quicker on the draw, executed
well-timed takedowns at opportune times and leaned on airtight
submission defense. Morales (9-2, 1-2 UFC) did his best work in the
third round, where he delivered a takedown of his own, turned up
the heat and made his play to earn favor on the scorecards. His
efforts fell short.

Shelton has posted victories in two of his last three
appearances.

De La Rosa Outduels Sanchez, Moves to 11-1

Factory X representative Mark De La
Rosa recorded his second win as many appearances, as he took a
split decision from Joby
Sanchez in a three-round undercard scrap at 135 pounds.
Thrasher struck a 29-28 scorecard for Sanchez, while judges Sal
D’Amato and Hale Hilsabeck saw it for De La Rosa (11-1, 2-1 UFC):
29-28 and 30-27.

Sanchez (11-4, 1-4 UFC) had his moments but spent too much time
fighting off his back foot. De La Rosa zeroed in on his lower leg
with kicks and remained the aggressor throughout their 15-minute
engagement, forcing his counterpart to circle on the perimeter.

The 27-year-old Sanchez has suffered back-to-back defeats for the
first time in his career.